There may be more than two million prostitutes among South Asia’s billion people – males, females and the ‘third gender’, angels unwillingly tumbled into hell. The majority come from low-caste and tribal communities, and the remainder are cast out, fleeing abuse, supporting their families, or trafficked.

Through the personal voices of those in the trade, this book confronts the powerful issues of trafficking, child prostitution, HIV/AIDS and sex workers’ rights, and through profiles of the leading grassroots organizations working with the sex industry, it presents the struggles to address those issues.

Challenging the stereotypes of ‘whore’, ‘victim’ and ‘fallen woman’, Fallen Angels presents real people living their lives – unfortunate lives, but the only hand dealt by the gods. That there is often laughter in the brothels, that there is anger, hope, and in some cases a forceful demand for human rights, are all testament to the immense strength of those in the sex industry. That strength is the subject of this book.